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Writer's pictureIan Parker

New Doggy Day Care regulations – what every dog owner using should know

When considering which doggy day care or dog home boarding service to use, it’s unlikely that high on your list will be Government regulations. Price, location, friendless of team, friends and family referrals will probably feature high to enable you to make a decision as to where to place your pooch, but it is also important to consider other factors when visiting a new doggy day care facility.

In October 2018, the Government Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) updated is regulations. Primarily aimed at local authority inspectors but also important for dogs owners, the guidance ensures that dog welfare is maintained and in some cases improved.

It sets out how doggy day care units should ensure accurate record keeping, safe staffing, suitable environment, suitable diet, animal handling and protecting dogs for pain and harm along with other general issues that apply to all activities.

Cheadle Doggy Day Care

At Cheadle Dog House we ensure our practices meet and in some cases surpass these standards of care. Dogs are provided with a friendly and natural homely environment and layout that provides them with choice and stimulation. We generally have now more than two to three dogs in our care at any one time, although on some days this can be as little as just one dog.


With separate areas available for different activities including indoor and outdoor spaces, open spaces and natural woodland/shrubbery areas to walk in, there is something for every dog to enjoy. Quickly collecting and disposing of dog foul, and of course, ensuring that several different drinking water bowls are always available also form part of a safe and clean environment.

Cheadle Dog House ensures it has a clear daily plan in place that sets out two short walks for each dogs (a minimum of 20 minutes each) onlead walking in the secure area of local parks that are very close by and are way from the premises. These are ideal locations away from busy traffic – lessening carbon monoxide exposure, or in areas with lots of pedestrians.


We have alternative forms of enrichment for dogs which cannot be exercised for either veterinary reasons or for older age, for similar periods of time.

The full guidance for both day care and home boarding is available here:

  • The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 – Guidance notes for conditions for providing day care for dogs – October 2018.

  • The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 – Guidance notes for conditions for providing home boarding for dogs – October 2018.

Whilst price and location is a key driver for doggy day and home boarding, the conditions of the facility and planning the safe welfare of dogs ensure that each dogs enjoys their time whilst with us at Cheadle Dog House.


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